Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust

Psychological Therapist

The closing date is 28 October 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and committedClinical/Counselling Psychologist or Psychological Therapist to join the North Cumbria At Risk Mental State Service (ARMS).

The ARMS service is a small multi-disciplinary team offering interventions to try to prevent the onset of psychosis. We welcome applications from enthusiastic individuals with a keen interest in working with young people and adults aged 14-35 who are thought to be at risk of developing psychosis. This is an exciting and developing service which is research active. The team is an independent service but works closely with local Early Intervention in Psychosis services.

Main duties of the job

As a core team member you will provide specialist psychological assessment, individual and group interventions, to service users in collaboration with colleagues. You will also support the wider team with assessment, formulation and care planning as well as offer supervision and consultation. In addition, you will contribute to training initiatives and innovative service developments, in support of the provision of compassionate, trauma informed care and high quality, evidence-based interventions that promote wellbeing and recovery. There are opportunities to contribute to audit and research and the service has well-established links to local training providers.

About us

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

Details

Date posted

14 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

263-CCG25-358-LB

Job locations

Carleton Clinic

Cumwhinton Drive

Carlisle

CA1 3SX


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date : 14th October 2025

Closing date : 28th October 2025

We welcome your application.

Please note - this vacancy may close early once a suitable number of applications are received.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date : 14th October 2025

Closing date : 28th October 2025

We welcome your application.

Please note - this vacancy may close early once a suitable number of applications are received.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • An Honours Degree in Psychology recognised for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society, or RMN, or equivalent degree level qualification in mental health and Post-graduate qualifications in psychological assessment and psychological therapy (e.g. Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, Post-graduate diploma in CBT, IAPT High Intensity CBT diploma).
  • HCPC registered practitioner psychologist or equivalent e.g. BABCP registered CBT practitioner. or Member of an appropriate professional body

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Experience of model specific psychological assessment and therapy with clients across a wide range of care settings.
  • Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, with presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity, including severe and enduring mental health problems, psychosis and/or personality disorder, drawing on evidence based models. This includes maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the possibility of physical abuse.

Skills and Competencies

Essential

  • Skills in the use of model-specific psychological assessment and therapy. Skills in evidence based psychological interventions.
  • Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinical sensitive information to clients, their family, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
  • Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.

Role/Team specific requirements

Essential

  • Ability to teach and train others.
  • Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive behaviour
Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • An Honours Degree in Psychology recognised for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society, or RMN, or equivalent degree level qualification in mental health and Post-graduate qualifications in psychological assessment and psychological therapy (e.g. Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, Post-graduate diploma in CBT, IAPT High Intensity CBT diploma).
  • HCPC registered practitioner psychologist or equivalent e.g. BABCP registered CBT practitioner. or Member of an appropriate professional body

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Experience of model specific psychological assessment and therapy with clients across a wide range of care settings.
  • Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, with presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity, including severe and enduring mental health problems, psychosis and/or personality disorder, drawing on evidence based models. This includes maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the possibility of physical abuse.

Skills and Competencies

Essential

  • Skills in the use of model-specific psychological assessment and therapy. Skills in evidence based psychological interventions.
  • Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinical sensitive information to clients, their family, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
  • Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.

Role/Team specific requirements

Essential

  • Ability to teach and train others.
  • Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive behaviour

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Carleton Clinic

Cumwhinton Drive

Carlisle

CA1 3SX


Employer's website

https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Carleton Clinic

Cumwhinton Drive

Carlisle

CA1 3SX


Employer's website

https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Pathway Manager

Jannette Alexander

Jannette.alexander@cntw.nhs.uk

07870366297

Details

Date posted

14 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

263-CCG25-358-LB

Job locations

Carleton Clinic

Cumwhinton Drive

Carlisle

CA1 3SX


Supporting documents

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